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qián 前 gōng 功 jìn 尽 qì 弃

前功尽弃 qián gōng jìn qì

all previous efforts wasted; to lose everything gained

Literally: previous effort completely abandon

Intermediate 🏁 Success & failure
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Origin

From the Zhanguo Ce: an adviser warned the Qin general Bai Qi that one defeat would make 前功尽弃.

How to use it

Predicate; negative. 现在放弃就前功尽弃了.

Example sentences

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  1. 你已经学了两年，现在放弃就前功尽弃了。
    Nǐ yǐjīng xué le liǎng nián, xiànzài fàngqì jiù qián gōng jìn qì le.
    You have studied for two years; if you give up now all that effort is wasted.
    you already study (particle) two year, now give up then previous effort completely abandon (particle)
  2. 最后一步出了错，整个实验前功尽弃。
    Zuìhòu yī bù chū le cuò, zhěnggè shíyàn qián gōng jìn qì.
    A mistake in the last step ruined the whole experiment.
    last one step out (particle) mistake, whole experiment previous effort completely abandon

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